Sisters Art in the Park

As crowds of cowboys and cowgirls swarmed to the Sisters Rodeo last weekend, another event was humming along at Creekside City Park.

Sisters' annual Art at the Park show was graced by balmy weather and good crowds as 80 vendors plied their wares ranging from jewelry to wood furniture, from paintings to music.

The event ebbs and flows along with the rodeo.

"We had a good crowd after the parade, then during rodeo it slows down a little bit, and then it picks up again," organizer Richard Esterman said.

A good crowd was drawn to a tent set up by itinerant musician Leo A. Gosselin.

Gosselin plays a unique instrument called the "Chapman Grand Stick." Originally invented in the 1960s, the "Stick" is a 10- or 12-stringed instrument played percussively with both hands tapping the wide fingerboard. It is strung such that it creates melodies much like guitar with underlying tones as deep and resonant as a cello.

Gosselin, who hails from Arizona, works shows like the Sisters art fair all summer, selling his CDs, which run the gamut from jazz standards to Celtic airs.

This year the art festival had added attractions for the younger set: a bounce house; a slide; a shooting gallery; and a paintball gallery. Esterman said he wanted to try something kid-friendly for visitors.

"We've got a lot a of rodeo families coming through, so that's something new I'm just playing with," Esterman said.

The event also features a silent auction, with a portion of proceeds donated to the Make-A-Wish Foundation.

Author Bio

Jim Cornelius, Editor in Chief

Jim Cornelius is editor in chief of The Nugget and author of “Warriors of the Wildlands: True Tales of the Frontier Partisans.” A history buff, he explores frontier history across three centuries and several continents on his podcast, The Frontier Partisans. For more information visit www.frontierpartisans.com.

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